Departing Lieutenant-Colonel Joe O’Donnell receives a gift for his service to the Shilo Brazillian Jiujitsu Club during his leadership tenure at CFB Shilo on June 7. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery welcomes new Commanding Officer

Canadian Forces Base Shilo (CFB Shilo) and 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) welcomed Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Jordan Beatty as the new Commanding Officer of the regiment on June 7 at an afternoon ceremony.

The regiment bid farewell to departing LCol Joe O’Donnell, who has held the leadership role for the past two years and is heading overseas to a new posting in Latvia.

In his opening address to the battalion and guests, LCol Beatty said while the leadership is changing, 1 RCHA is not – the people and the knowledge remain the same. He said there is no place he would rather be.

“On day one, I’m already proud of the fighting spirit and the mental toughness members of this regiment have displayed during tough times.”

“My pledge to you is we will keep moving forward together, building on the success this regiment has already acheived and ultimately serving this country …”

LCol Beatty told Shilo Stag Media that it is “super exciting” to be with the regiment.

“I am very excited to get everyone off to Operation REASSURANCE and take part in the multi-national battalion in Latvia.”

“[I want to] keep everyone in the good, take over from where LCol O’Donnell left things and keep everything in fighting shape to support all operations – domestic and international, whenever we are called to,” the incoming commanding officer said. “That, coupled with a good balance and not burning out everyone as things pick up in the Army, are the things I want to accomplish in general.”

LCol O’Donnell told Shilo Stag Media it is hard for him to leave Shilo because of his deep connections to the community.

“I’ve grown up in this regiment as a professional officer. I’ve grown up on this Base as a kid, so it’s hard to leave knowing there’s no spot for me to come back to.”

“It’s challenging, but in the same sense, you know it’s got to end. You’ve got to move on. That is the Army life.”

The departing commanding officer said he gave everything he could to the position and overcame challenges such as COVID-19 effects, equipment challenges and the vehicle state (VOR). Staying “operationally focused and exercising for those operations” helped overcome the hurdles, he said, with flexibility and finding unique ways to train assisted with success.

He said he is most happy with the team efforts in Exercise LIMBER GUNNER, where everyone “charged forward” despite vehicle constraints and personnel challenges.

” … People stepped up to fill roles such as the food party. They didn’t have an officer, and they still shot incredibly. “We didn’t have LAVs to roll around with, so they went dismounted. We used 408 Tact. Helicopter Squadron to move around. Things some of the junior officers and junior NCOs haven’t seen, and we did an outstanding job … they executed flawlessly.”

“Final words would be, I absolutely love the regiment. I love Shilo. I will miss it … just cherish the time here because I believe it is the best regiment in the Canadian Army,” LCol O’Donnell said.

Incoming Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Jordan Beatty receives the 1 RCHA Commanders Pennant at a change of command ceremony on June 7. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)